About CDC
Canterbury Development Corporation has defined economic development as "improving standards of living and quality of life by generating economic wealth".
Our role is to stimulate economic growth through significant interventions, particularly focused on export-ready companies and sectors. With a nod to our more than 25 years’ history in economic development, we are refocusing on building our capability and track record of initiating and implementing change, developing priority sectors and leading major regional projects.
Our goal is to achieve a 10% real increase in regional domestic product to double economy in five years while also creating a competitive environment by investing in inter-generational infrastructure projects.
Priorities
So we can fulfil our preferred role of leading the economic development of Christchurch and Canterbury, we shifted our focus in late 2008 and have set ourselves some priorities.
1. Providing economic development leadership - CDC is gathering and analysing information on the Canterbury economy that will provide sound information as a base for our new economic development strategies for Christchurch and Canterbury; as well as giving individual companies and sectors some good analysis of what’s going on and where Canterbury and Christchurch are heading.
2. Providing a range of business support services to Fast Track companies - CDC brings together the finest expertise to guide and support Canterbury’s rising stars trading in our key industry sectors. Custom solutions are available to businesses who have the drive and desire to achieve significant growth, are committed to becoming the best in their field and who currently export or have the desire to export in the near future.
3. Focus on industry and businesses that have the potential to grow the economy - we’re working with existing industry sectors to develop strategies, projects and interventions to aid growth; and we’re attracting companies from outside Christchurch & Canterbury.
4. Focus on projects that will transform the economy - we’re involved in a range of projects with potential to add real wealth to Christchurch and Canterbury, an example includes securing Broadband Challenge for the city.
5. Support long-term instrastructure development - working with key infrastructure providers and the Christchurch City Council to create a long term economic infrastructure plan for the city.
6. Coordinate a local reponse to the current economic conditions - we’re part of the Mayoral Taskforce on the international credit crisis; we helped organise the Christchurch Employment Summit; we’re in touch with leading Canterbury employers finding out what the issues are and working together on solutions.
Expertise
As part of our refocusing, we decided we needed to be really good at:
- Economic Development Leadership
And so we’re developing, promoting and implementing a stakeholder-lead strategic plan for Canterbury’s economy – working with other regional economic development agencies to come up with a new Canterbury Regional Economic Development Strategy. And separately from that, we’re focusing on the city in our creation of a brand new Christchurch Economic Development Strategy. - Regional Knowledge
We’re continuing in our quest to secure a deep knowledge and understanding of economic development, business in general and of the Canterbury economy and businesses in particular, shared widely through our expertise in economic analysis, workforce and investment; along with formal and informal interactions and programmes. - Change agent/Catalyst/Implementer
We’re ensuring we have the resources and people to provide selective but effective interventions which will help make the Christchurch & Canterbury economy grow.
History
Canterbury Development Corporation was set up as a limited liability trust company by Christchurch City Council on 5 December 1983.
“With the economic recession of the 1970s and 1980s, more flexible approaches to zoning for businesses started to evolve, such as the mixed business (light industrial/commercial) zones replacing older industrial areas in the vicinity of Moorhouse Avenue.
“Later still, at the north-western end of Wairakei Road, a group of firms manufacturing electronic equipment and developing computer software became established in an informal ‘technology park ’promoted by the Waimairi District Council and Canterbury Development Corporation.”
Contextual Christchurch City Historical Overview, June 2005
CDC track recordFor more information on CDC's history, contact CDC reception +64 3 379 5575 or email cdc@cdc.org.nz.
Where is CDC?
Level 2, 193 Cashel St
PO Box 2962
Christchurch 8140
Tel 64 3 379 5575
Fax 64 3 379 5554
cdc@cdc.org.nz
Who are we?
Canterbury Development Corporation's Board of Directors sets our programme at a strategic level; Our People put that programme into action.
Our Achievements
CDC has initiated or been involved in setting up:
Canterbury Innovation Incubator
Film South
Pratt & Whitney Engine Centre
Canterbury & Nelson Nutraceuticals cluster
Canterbury Economic Development Fund
HITLab NZ
Careers Expo
CORE Education
Clotheslink Canterbury
Electronics South
Young Enterprise Scheme
Prosperous Christchurch
Frontier Innovations Limited
Apprenticeship Graduation event
Connect New Zealand
Wuhan-Christchurch Strategic Friendship City
Outside The Square
Enterprise Champion Network
Screen Canterbury
Geospatial Research Centre NZ
Broadband Challenge
Canterbury ICT cluster
Communities Mean Business
Wool Industry Network
Boundary LifeSciences
Intersection LifeSciences
Functional Food Centre
Aspire workshops
Water Resource Management Toolbox
Head Office Attraction Project
Canterbury Labour Market Strategy
Skills Shortage survey
Antarctica economic impact study
Aviation Technology Park